Making Zero Trust “Trustworthy”: Strengthening Cybersecurity with Assurance and Transparency

Making Zero Trust “Trustworthy”: Strengthening Cybersecurity Resilience

In the digital age, cybersecurity has become a top priority for organizations seeking to safeguard their critical systems and data. As cyber threats evolve, so too must our security strategies. One such strategy that has gained significant traction is the concept of Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA).

A little over a year ago, Zero Trust was touted as the solution to many cybersecurity challenges. Now, with a host of new policies such as the White House National Cybersecurity Strategy, OMB Cybersecurity Policy, and strategies from the DHS and DOD, the implementation of Zero Trust is being pushed forward aggressively. But as organizations race towards adopting Zero Trust models, there's an often-overlooked aspect that must be addressed to ensure long-term success — making Zero Trust “Trustworthy”.

What is Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA)?

Zero Trust is a security framework built around the principle of "never trust, always verify." Unlike traditional network security models, which focus on creating strong perimeters around a system and trusting users within them, Zero Trust assumes that every request — whether inside or outside the network — could be a potential threat. As such, every access request is rigorously verified before it’s granted.

ZTA provides flexible, dynamic security features, including strong authentication, authorization, and access controls to protect IT systems. However, while ZTA excels in managing access and controlling who gets to interact with system resources, it does not necessarily address trustworthiness. Without a framework for verifying the trustworthiness of the system components themselves, a Zero Trust architecture may inadvertently leave the door open to hidden vulnerabilities.

The Problem: Lack of Trustworthiness in System Components

While Zero Trust provides effective access control, there are gaps in the system when it comes to understanding the integrity of the components within the system. For example:

• How are the individual system components designed?
• What development processes are used to build these components?
• Are the components tested for security vulnerabilities?
• Can these components be trusted to function as expected?
  
  

Many of the components that make up an IT system are developed by external vendors. These vendors are primarily driven by innovation, cost, and speed-to-market, often without a clear focus on security assurance. From the consumer's perspective, it’s difficult to know if these components are genuinely trustworthy. Are the components built with security in mind? Are they tested rigorously? Do they contain untrusted code or have inherent vulnerabilities that could be exploited?

Zero Trust's focus on controlling access and verifying identities is vital, but trustworthiness should extend beyond simply ensuring proper access controls. It needs to be a foundational principle, embedded within the design and lifecycle of the system itself.

The Role of Assurance in Trustworthiness

To make Zero Trust truly trustworthy, we must turn to the concept of assurance. Assurance is the process of providing justified confidence that a claim, such as the reliability or security of a system, is valid and accurate. It’s what provides the evidence that the system and its components will perform as intended under all circumstances, particularly during high-stress scenarios like cyber-attacks.

The Five Key Elements of Assurance:

1. Verification — Verifying that the system is designed and built according to rigorous security standards.
2. Validation — Ensuring that the system meets its intended security goals and will behave securely under all operational conditions.
3. Evidence — Gathering relevant, credible, and sufficient data to support claims about the system's trustworthiness.
4. Testing — Ongoing testing of the system components to ensure that they are free of vulnerabilities and operate as expected.
5. Transparency — Providing clear, verifiable evidence that the system has been built and tested according to best practices and rigorous standards.
   
   

The assurance process addresses the gap that exists between a Zero Trust framework's security features and the underlying system components. Assurance gives the decision-makers confidence that the Zero Trust framework is not just a set of rules and protocols, but that it is built on a solid foundation of trustworthy components that will reliably safeguard organizational assets.

Why Trustworthiness Matters

The value of trust in the digital world cannot be overstated. We rely on our digital infrastructure for almost every facet of life, from managing finances to healthcare to national security. Trust is a fundamental principle that underpins these systems, but trust alone is not enough.

In Executive Order 14028, which focuses on improving the nation's cybersecurity, trustworthiness is framed as something that must be earned and proven through transparent, evidence-backed assurance processes. This resonates deeply in the world of Zero Trust. If we are going to place our trust in these systems — systems that manage sensitive data, make critical decisions, and control vital infrastructure — we need to know that the systems are trustworthy. This is not just about implementing strong security protocols but also about making sure the systems are designed, built, and validated to withstand sophisticated cyber threats.

How to Make Zero Trust “Trustworthy”

1. Comprehensive Assurance Models: As Zero Trust architectures are rolled out, it’s crucial to incorporate assurance models that evaluate and validate each component’s security posture. This means auditing the vendors that supply system components, ensuring they meet security requirements, and continuously testing these components throughout their lifecycle.

2. Transparent Supply Chains: Trustworthiness starts with transparency. Ensuring that organizations have full visibility into the entire supply chain — including third-party providers — will help mitigate the risks associated with untrusted components. Conducting rigorous security evaluations and providing clear reports on the security posture of these components is essential.

3. Rigorous Testing and Validation: Beyond the implementation of Zero Trust protocols, it’s necessary to regularly test systems for vulnerabilities, weaknesses, and gaps. Red teaming, penetration testing, and ongoing validation processes are crucial to making sure that Zero Trust environments remain trustworthy and resilient against evolving threats.

4. Enhanced Collaboration Between IT and Risk Management: Zero Trust can’t work in isolation. There needs to be constant collaboration between IT teams, risk management departments, and executive leadership to ensure that trustworthiness is an integral part of the Zero Trust framework. Together, these teams should continuously assess and refine their approach to security.

5. Cultural and Organizational Change: Finally, organizations must cultivate a culture of trustworthiness. This includes prioritizing security in the development and procurement of components, emphasizing transparency, and continually advocating for best practices in cybersecurity and risk management.
   
   

Conclusion

Zero Trust is undoubtedly an effective and necessary strategy for today’s cybersecurity landscape. However, to ensure that Zero Trust is more than just a buzzword, we must go beyond access controls and integrate robust assurance practices. Only by making Zero Trust “trustworthy” can we ensure the continued resilience of the critical systems we rely on.

The challenge is clear: we need to not only defend against cyber threats but also cultivate systems that are worthy of the trust we place in them. This requires transparency, rigorous assurance, and a commitment to making every component of the system reliable, secure, and resilient. With these foundational principles in place, Zero Trust can be more than just a framework for access control — it can be the cornerstone of a secure, trustworthy digital future.